Here at John Handley Bearings, we wanted to share our thoughts on mental health at Work during COVID-19. We have transposed from a normal life of freedom to lockdown, social distancing and generally not interacting in any of the ways familiar to us as humans.
It is important that businesses take care of their staff in many ways, from physical health to mental health. Uncertainty is assured at this time as none of us truly know when this may end, therefore this may be an opportunity for anxiety to creep in.
In these times of uncertainty, it may be worth sending a text or email to furloughed staff to ensure they are well and coping with new circumstances. We have done this here at John Handley and have received great feedback. This could be vital for ensuring morale and helping staff to feel we are all in this together.
However, for staff who may be struggling at this time, we recommend that they include exercise in their daily routine and to refrain from reading or watching the media in any quantity if they are feeling particularly anxious about the current situation.
It is important that we see staff as a massive asset to any company, and that their well being is just as critical as carrying out business. A recent post on Twitter said:
“A senior surgical consultant on a COVID ward covered up his job title on his name badge and replaced it with “FY1 Doctor” (House doctor). He refused, when asked, to reveal his speciality because “it’s irrelevant now”.
It is important to look out for all those around us at this time as those people are ‘the constant’ and often the silent warriors on the coal face helping the wheels of businesses turn.
